Ball-valve



{210 Model.)

A. G. ALEXANDER.

. BALL VALVE. No. 265,857. Patented Oct. 3,1882.

i nl a49ammw I iINiTED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ALEXANDER G. ALEXANDER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BALL-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,357, dated October 3, 1882.

Application filed J annary 28, 185 2. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER G. ALEX- ANDER, of Detroit, in the county ofWayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ball-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of aball-valve embodying myinvention, and Fig.

2 is a section through the center of the valvestem.

The invention will be first fully described in detail, and the improvements afterward specifically set forth in the claims, a preliminary explanation being therefore deemed unnecessary.

L represents the shell or case of the valve, divided by an internal partition into two chambers, It R Pis an inlet-pipe communicatingwith chamher It, and A is an outlet-pipe opening from chamber R It is an openingbetwcen chambers R R having a raised rim in chamber R to form avalveseat.

K is a valve-stem, made substantially the same in diameter as the opening R, its inner end being somewhat enlarged to support a washer, I, secured thereto by a screw, E.

G D represent an ordinary stuffing box, through which valve-stem K works.

F is an arm fastened to the shell of the valve to afford a fulcrum for the bent lever H, the short arm of which engages with valve-stem K, thelong arm thereof being fastened to ball B.

It will be understood that the ball B is placed in avessel to which water is admitted,dircctly or indirectly, through the valve, and that as the water rises in said vessel ball B is raised until the valve is closed.

Valves of this kind are ordinarilyconstructed by making the valve-stem much smaller in diameter than the valve-seat and enlarging the inner end of the stem sufficiently to support a washer. When a valve so constructed is closed the valve is held to its seat by a force equal to the water-pressure upon a surface whose area is equal to the difference between the area of the end of the valve'stem and the area of the valve-scat, in addition to the pressure exerted by the ball or float. When the water-pressure exceeds the pressure exerted by the weight of the ball the valve will not open, even when the water which supports the ballis withdrawn, and, if opened, closes with a jerk, causing a violent ram in the water-pipes; but when the diameters of the valve-stem and valve-seat are practically equal the power required to open the valve remains constant, without regard to the water-pressure,there being no such excess of pressure asin the ordinary construction,and the valve works surely and smoothly, whatever may be the water-pressure.

The principle of my invention may be applied with great advantage to self-closingcocks, requiring a much less powerful spring and openingmuch more easily than cocks constructed in the ordinary manner.

I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming a valve automatically opened and closed through the instrumentality of a float and connecting-rods and levers, as such of itself does not constitute my invention.

What I'claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the shell or easin g provided with an inlet and an outlet orifice, and divided into two chambers by a vertical partition havinga lateral valve-opening, the horizontally-movable valve-stem constructed of a diameter substantially the same as that of the valve-opening, and a ball or float connected with the outer portion of the valve-stem, essentially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the shell or casin g provided with an inlet and an outlet orifice, and divided into two chambers by a vertical partition havinga lateral valve opening, said inlet and outlet connecting with the two chambers, respectively, the horizontally-movable valve-stem carrying an attached valve, and constructed of a diameter equal or substantially equal to that of the valve-o 'iening, a pivoted swinging lever connected with theouter portion of the valve-stem, and a ball or float sustained by the outer end of the lever, essentially as and for the purpose described. i

3. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the shell or casing divided into two upright chambers by a vertical partition having-a lateral valve-openin g provided with a raised rim, the inlet and outlet pipes communicating respectively with the said chainbers, a stuffing-box in said casing, a horizontally-movablevalve-stem arranged in the stuffing-box, and constructed of a diameter equal or substantially equal to the diameter of the lateral valve-opening, and a ball or float connected with the valve-stem by a swinging lever pivoted to the shell of easing, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate eslo sentially as and for the purposes set forth.

A. G. ALEXANDER.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES E. LQTHROP, G150. B. REMICK. 

